A personal statement is a narrative essay that allows you to introduce yourself to the institution’s admissions team. Its purpose is to:
- Showcase your personality, values and life experiences
- Explain why you are interested in a particular field of study
- Demonstrate your writing ability
The information you provide in your personal statement can help build on your other application materials, like your transcripts and letters of recommendation, and build a more cohesive picture to help the admissions committee understand your goals.
What is a personal statement?
A personal statement is a brief written essay you submit with other materials when applying to college or university. Personal statements tend to be most common for undergraduate applications, and they’re a great opportunity for an admissions committee to hear your voice directly.
Many colleges and universities in the US, especially those using Common App, provide prompts for you to use. For example, “Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea”, or “Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time”. If the school you’re interested in attending doesn’t require prompts, you will likely want to craft a response that touches on your story, your values, and your goals if possible.
Why is a personal statement important?
Personal statements are important for a number of reasons. Whereas other materials you submit in an application can address your academic abilities (like your transcripts) or how you perform as a student (like your letters of recommendation), a personal statement is a chance to do exactly that; get more personal.
Personal statements typically:
- Permit you to share things that don’t fit on your resume, such as personal stories, motivations, and values
- Offer colleges a chance to see why you’re interested in a particular field of study and what you hope to accomplish after you graduate
- Provide an opportunity for you to talk about past employment, volunteer experiences, or skills you have that complement your studies
- Allow colleges to evaluate your writing skills
- Bring life to a college application package otherwise filled with facts and figures
Personal Statement vs Essay
An essay, on the other hand, is a more formal academic writing piece that responds to a specific prompt or question. Its purpose is to:
- Showcase your analytical and critical thinking skills
- Demonstrate your ability to construct a well-reasoned argument
- Provide evidence of your writing proficiency
College application essays are usually more structured, with an introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. They require you to present a clear thesis and support it with relevant examples and analysis.
College application essays are usually more structured, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. They require you to present a clear thesis and support it with relevant examples and analysis.
Key Differences
Purpose: A personal statement introduces you as a person, while an essay evaluates your academic writing abilities.
Content: Personal statements focus on your personal experiences, motivations and goals. Essays analyse a given topic or respond to a specific prompt.
Structure: Personal statements have a more narrative, introspective structure. Essays follow a more formal, argumentative structure.
Tone: Personal statements can be more informal and conversational. Essays require a more formal, academic tone.
A personal statement allows you to showcase your personality and story, while an essay demonstrates your analytical and rhetorical skills. Many colleges require both as part of their application process.
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By utilizing the resources and support offered by these companies, students can effectively highlight their academic and extra-curricular journey, leaving aa lasting impression on prospective employers. By understanding the job requirements, preparing a compelling narrative, connecting academic achievements to real-world applications, showcasing leadership and teamwork skills, emphasising transferable skills, highlighting personal growth and being genuine and passionate, students can effectively demonstrate their unique qualities and suitability for the position.
